Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

Fla. Stat. § 90.4026

Statements expressing sympathy; admissibility; definitions

Showing this section's text as in effect on January 1, 2011 (in force January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2023). View current text →

(1) As used in this section:

(a) “Accident” means an occurrence resulting in injury or death to one or more persons which is not the result of willful action by a party.

(b) “Benevolent gestures” means actions that convey a sense of compassion or commiseration emanating from human impulses.

(c) “Family” means the spouse, parent, grandparent, stepmother, stepfather, child, grandchild, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, adopted child of parent, or spouse’s parent of an injured party.

(2) The portion of statements, writings, or benevolent gestures expressing sympathy or a general sense of benevolence relating to the pain, suffering, or death of a person involved in an accident and made to that person or to the family of that person shall be inadmissible as evidence in a civil action. A statement of fault, however, which is part of, or in addition to, any of the above shall be admissible pursuant to this section.

Official source: Online Sunshine (Florida Legislature). Reproduced from public-domain Florida statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.